News
My Father Left Behind 20 Houses, 30 Children –Embattled Abba Kyari Tells Court
- /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Abba-Kyari.jpg&description=My Father Left Behind 20 Houses, 30 Children –Embattled Abba Kyari Tells Court', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/naijuinz/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://naijablitznews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Abba-Kyari.jpg&description=My Father Left Behind 20 Houses, 30 Children –Embattled Abba Kyari Tells Court', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
Embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, on Wednesday told the Federal High Court in Abuja that several properties linked to him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency belonged to his late father and were jointly owned by his 30 siblings.
Kyari, who opened his defence before Justice James Omotosho, said his late father left behind more than 20 houses in Maiduguri, Borno State.
He added that some of the properties were sold to fund his father’s medical bills before his death.
He maintained that he could not have declared the properties in his assets form since he had not received his portion.
Under cross-examination by NDLEA counsel, Sunday Joseph, Kyari said,
“My Lord, I cannot put my interest about the property in the form because the 20 houses belong to my father and not me. If I get my percentage of share, I can put it, but until when I get my own percentage.
“All the properties left behind by my father belong to all his children and we are about 30 in number.”
Kyari is facing 23 counts filed against hum by the NDLEA, which alleged that he and two co-defendants, Mohammed Kyari and Ali Kyari, failed to fully declare their assets, disguised ownership of properties and converted funds contrary to the law.
The charges, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/408/2022, allegedly contravene Section 35(3)(a) of the NDLEA Act and Section 15(3)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011. The prosecution has so far called 10 witnesses and tendered 20 exhibits before closing its case.
The defendants had filed a no-case submission, but the court dismissed it on October 28, ruling that a prima facie case had been established.
Justice Omotosho noted that the ruling did not imply guilt but allowed the defendants to enter their defence, stressing that they remain presumed innocent until proven otherwise.
Meanwhile, Kyari argued that the NDLEA failed to prove ownership of the properties tied to him, citing Section 128 of the Evidence Act, which he said requires certified true copies of title documents to prove transactions over state lands.
“About four of the properties were sold then,” he noted.
Kyari, who holds a BSc in Geography and joined the Nigeria Police Force on May 1, 2000, said he was conversant with the asset-declaration process.
Asked whether he declared his interest in the inherited properties, he responded that he could not since the assets were collectively owned.
“I cannot include my father’s properties in my asset-declaration form because they belong to the entire family, not me. If I get my percentage share, I can declare it, but not before then,” he said.
He added that proceeds from some sales were distributed among relatives in need.
Kyari also admitted that he initially declined to complete the asset-declaration form when invited by NDLEA operatives, insisting that his lawyers must be present.
“Yes, I said I would not make a statement until my lawyers were around,” he said, adding that one officer informed him that refusal to fill the form was a criminal offence.
Kyari further testified that the millions of naira traced to his bank accounts came from operational funds released by the police and some governors for security operations.
He said that as former Commander of the Anti-Robbery Squad and later head of the Intelligence Response Team, he supervised over 1,000 operations, with funds often routed through his account for disbursement.
When asked why funds channelled through the Central Bank of Nigeria were sent to his relatives, Kyari said the money was used to repay loans he obtained from them to fund urgent operations due to bureaucratic delays in official releases.
Justice Omotosho noted that whether family properties should be declared would be addressed in the parties’ final written addresses.
The NDLEA tendered several bank documents, which Kyari confirmed bore his name. The prosecution then sought an adjournment to obtain additional documents for further cross-examination.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until November 12 for continuation of the hearing.
NAN
President Tinubu Will Commission Roads 01 and 02 Linking Mabushi Bus Terminal and Ahmadu Bello Way Today
#FCTRenewedHope
#FCTProjectsCommissioning
News
BEWARE: FG warns 26 States of flood, places, Bayelsa, Delta, Lagos, Adamawa, Benue, others as critical risk areas
The Federal Government has alerted residents of 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the possibility of flooding between June 22 and July 5, 2026, following forecasts of heavy rainfall in different parts of the country.
The warning was issued by the Federal Ministry of Environment through the National Flood Early Warning Centre under its Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department.
The ministry said several communities across the country have been identified as areas that could face serious flood threats during the period.
According to the forecast released on June 22, heavy rainfall is expected in many locations, raising concerns about possible flooding in vulnerable communities.
States placed under the critical-risk category include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Rivers.
In Abia State, the affected communities include Aba, Arochukwu and Umuahia. In Adamawa, the ministry listed Jimeta and Numan, while Eket, Oron and Uyo were named in Akwa Ibom. In Anambra, Onitsha Inland Town and Awka Urban Drainage Corridors were identified as vulnerable locations.
Bayelsa communities such as Yenagoa, Brass and Nembe Town were also listed among areas that could be affected by flooding.
Other locations mentioned include Makurdi, Gboko and Katsina-Ala in Benue State; Calabar Metropolis and Creek Town in Cross River State; Asaba, Warri and Sapele in Delta State; and Abakaliki, Afikpo and Onueke in Ebonyi State.
The ministry also identified Benin City Urban Core and Auchi in Edo State, Ado-Ekiti and Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State, as well as Enugu, Nsukka and Oji River Town in Enugu State.
In Imo State, Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe were listed, while Lokoja and Ajaokuta were named in Kogi State. Communities such as Ilorin, Jebba and Pategi in Kwara State were also included in the warning.
Several parts of Lagos State were equally listed among the areas at risk.
These include Agege, Alimosho, Apapa, Badagry, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Lekki and Surulere.
In Niger State, Bida, Minna, Mokwa, Suleja and Kontagora were identified, while Abeokuta, Ota and Sagamu were listed in Ogun State.
The flood alert further covered Akure, Owo and Okitipupa in Ondo State; Oshogbo, Ile-Ife and Ilesa in Osun State; Ibadan, Ogbomoso and Oyo in Oyo State; as well as Port Harcourt Urban Core, Bonny, Ahoada and Omoku in Rivers State.
Apart from the states under the critical-risk category, the ministry also placed parts of Adamawa, the FCT, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau and Taraba states under a high-risk category.
Communities listed in this group include Yola North, Yola South, Mubi and Gurin in Adamawa State; Abuja Municipal, Gwagwalada, Kubwa, Nyanya and Wuse in the FCT; Birnin Kebbi and Argungu in Kebbi State; Bako in Kogi State; and Keffi, Lafia, Karu and Toto in Nasarawa State.
The warning also covered Jos and Jos North in Plateau State, as well as Jalingo, Wukari, Takum, Serti and Karim Lamido in Taraba State.
Finally, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has confirmed suspended an electoral officer allegedly involved in the voter data leak concerning Nollywood actor and politician, Emeka Ike.
The Commission disclosed that investigations by security agencies and data protection regulators are still ongoing.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, made the disclosure during a fireside chat organised by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa, PAACA, in Abuja.
The suspension came against the backdrop of a controversy that arose after the voter registration details of actor and politician, Emeka Ike, surfaced online during a dispute linked to a political party primary election in the Federal Capital Territory.
The electoral body said preliminary findings showed there was no external breach of its ICT infrastructure or compromise of its voter register.
Rather, according to the Commission, the data was allegedly accessed using valid credentials assigned to officials involved in the ongoing CVR exercise and subsequently disclosed without authorisation.
INEC said its audit trail enabled investigators to identify the specific user account used to access the voter record, leading to the questioning of personnel with access to the system.
DAY 13 of Projects Commissioning in the FCT
Two men to die by hanging over abduction of NYSC staff
BEWARE: FG warns 26 States of flood, places, Bayelsa, Delta, Lagos, Adamawa, Benue, others as critical risk areas
-
News20 hours agoViral ‘Sign-Out’ Video: Ondo Govt Withholds WAEC Results of 17 Students
-
News20 hours agoXenophobic attacks: FG evacuates another 66 citizens from South Africa
-
News17 hours agoDAY 12 of Projects Commissioning in the FCT: Watch Arterial Road N16 – Ring Road Il Intersection linking Jahi to Gwarimpa District
-
News16 hours agoSoldiers Reject Fresh Move To Deploy ‘Repentant’ Terrorists In Military Operations, Fear Sabotage, Intelligence Leaks
-
News20 hours agoICPC arraigns El-Rufai, six others over alleged N8.68bn CCTV contract fraud
-
News16 hours ago10 survived as building collapses in Lagos
-
News17 hours agoFG freezes bank accounts of confirmed terrorism financiers(See list)
-
News15 hours agoFinally, oil prices crash to $72 pre-war level